During Ward’s five-year tenure, Savvy and the PIF funneled billions into gaming, including the $4.9 billion Scopely acquisition in 2023 and the recent $55 billion EA takeover, with Savvy growing to roughly 4,000 employees globally.

Bloomberg reports that the EA deal has raised governance questions for the two Saudi-owned gaming giants, though it’s unclear if this influenced Ward’s decision to depart.

Savvy is pursuing further megadeals, reportedly including a $6 billion bid for Moonton Games, signaling ongoing consolidation under Saudi-backed entities.

A new partnership will explore sponsorships for major esports events and provide specialized executive banking services for SEF.

An agreement with Warpzone AI Labs aims to transfer knowledge and mentor, with potential to establish a local AI-native game development and testing lab.

Savvy Academy programmes will expand through the Saudi Digital Academy, boosting training and industry expertise.

Roblox’s partnership with Saudi Arabia includes a Riyadh regional headquarters and an educational overhaul, signaling ongoing collaboration and potential future stakes.

Savvy acts as a key execution partner for the Esports Foundation via EFG and maintains education collaborations to grow both global and local esports ecosystems.

The collaboration aims to turn gaming interest into skills, careers, and viable companies, strengthening Saudi Arabia’s games ecosystem as part of Vision 2030.

These efforts align with Vision 2030 to diversify the economy and develop tech, including partnerships with universities to create game development and esports programs.

Overall, Saudi Arabia is expanding its gaming footprint through stakes, acquisitions, and ecosystem-building to become a global gaming and esports hub.

The piece notes ongoing strategic moves, including M&A and geographic/economic considerations in Eastern markets.